The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) kicked off 2026 with remarkable momentum, approving a staggering ₱124.836 billion in new and expansion projects within the first five months of the year, the agency announced in Pasay City.
The figure represents an 88% surge compared to the ₱66.340 billion approved during the same period in 2025, signaling strong investor confidence in the Philippine economic zone ecosystem. A total of 135 projects spanning new ventures and expansions of existing operations made up the approvals.
PEZA projected that these approved investments would generate an estimated US$2.966 billion in exports, nearly triple the US$1.092 billion recorded in the first five months of last year. The authority attributed the growth to continued demand for space inside Philippine economic zones, particularly in manufacturing, IT-BPM, and logistics sectors.
The agency’s headquarters in Pasay City serves as the nerve center for processing all applications from businesses seeking to operate within the country’s special economic zones across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The strong first-half performance positions PEZA well toward meeting its full-year 2026 investment and export targets.
Industry analysts noted that the numbers reflect broader optimism among foreign and domestic investors in the Philippines as an investment destination, with competitive incentives, a young and English-proficient workforce, and strategic geographic location cited as key advantages. PEZA-registered enterprises enjoy benefits including income tax holidays, reduced corporate tax rates under the CREATE MORE Act, and simplified import-export procedures.
The Pasay City-based authority continues to process applications and has signaled that additional large-scale projects are in the pipeline for the second half of 2026, reinforcing the Philippines’ position as one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing investment hotspots.
Source: PEZA Official Press Release | Read more at PHShirt.com